Favorite Picture Book Award

The elementary teacher librarians began the Favorite Picture Book Award Project in 1999. Each fall, nine or ten "hot off the press" picture books are chosen for grades K-2 and 3-5 to read and enjoy. Students then vote on their favorite. The authors and illustrators of the winning books are sent a letter of congratulations and an award certificate to let them know our students chose their books as their favorites of the year.

This project is currently being supported through donations from the following Ottumwa businesses: Cargill Meat Solutions, NOEL Insurance, and McCune & Reed Insurance. Their generosity is truly appreciated.

An unexpected result of the program has been the warm and generous responses received from many of the winning authors and illustrators, from thank-you letters or e-mails to autographed books or posters to original artwork to story CD's. These items are shared with our students, and each time our students are excited to know that they have been in touch with a real author.

Past Winners of the OCSD Favorite Picture Book Award

1999-2000

Grades K-2:What! Cried Granny, written by Kate Lum and illustrated by Adrian Johnson

2000-2001

Grades K-2: The Field Mouse and the Dinosaur Named Sue, written by Jan Wahl and illustrated by Bob Doucet

Grades 3-6: The Raft, written and illustrated by Jim LaMarche

2001-2002

Grades K-2:Take Me Out of the Bathtub, written by Alan Katz and illustrated by David Catrow

Grades 3-6: Tough Beginnings, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Anna Vojtech

2002-2003

Grades K-2:The Recess Queen, written by Alexis O'Neill and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith

Grades 3-6:The Princess and the Pizza, written by Mary Jane Auch and illustrated by Herm and Mary Jane Auch

2003-2004

Grades K-2:What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?, by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page